The Witcher
The Witcher
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The Witcher

"Destiny is a beast."

7.9
Yr 2019
Status Returning Series
Drama Action & Adventure Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Series Brief

Overview

Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter for hire, journeys toward his destiny in a turbulent world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

Status

Latest

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 68 /100

Critical reception for the first season of Netflix's The Witcher was divided, with many reviewers noting that the fantasy drama appeals most directly to established fans of the genre. Critics pointed out that while the show suffers early on from heavy exposition and campy moments, it steadily improves over the course of its episodes, offering a distinct blend of myth, monster-hunting, and violence.

Several positive reviews highlighted the show's distinct tone and lighter touch compared to other modern fantasy epics. Outlets noted its lighthearted sense of humor, strong lead casting, solid cinematography, and memorable soundtrack cues. Reviewers also commended the show for crafting a compelling fantasy realm that manages to stand apart from obvious comparisons like Game of Thrones.

Conversely, harsher critiques centered on the show's pacing and narrative depth. Critics felt the universe and its characters at times felt underdeveloped or half-formed, while others took issue with an overly broad scope and drawn-out streaming structure. Nevertheless, even reviewers unfamiliar with the original source books or video games found the standalone story engaging enough to hold interest.

“The Witcher’s first five episodes weave together a compelling story and go a long ways toward creating a fully realized fantasy world...”

“...for those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they like.”

““The Witcher” has a lighthearted sense of humor...”

“...a fantasy show with too much exposition and cheese, but one that gets better with each episode.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
Netflix Standard with Ads
CA • US • UK
Why fans love it

Premiering in 2019, this dark fantasy drama transforms its original book source material into a gritty universe filled with magic, mutants, and grotesque monsters. The series trades simple heroics for a harsher reality where a mutated sword-for-hire navigates a deeply turbulent landscape. Henry Cavill anchors the action, leading a story where human malice frequently proves far more wicked than the supernatural threats lurking in the shadows.

Action and adventure drive the narrative, but the show thrives on its heavy atmosphere and expansive fantasy world. High-stakes magic clashes with brutal physical combat, creating a distinct blend of swordplay and dark intrigue. It delivers an uncompromising setting where mutation, sorcery, and constant conflict redefine who the real monsters are.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 12
Longest run 32 eps
Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill
as Geralt of Rivia
24 episodes
Liam Hemsworth
Liam Hemsworth
as Geralt of Rivia
8 episodes
Anya Chalotra
Anya Chalotra
as Yennefer of Vengerberg
32 episodes
Freya Allan
Freya Allan
as Princess Cirilla 'Ciri' of Cintra
32 episodes
Joey Batey
Joey Batey
as Jaskier / The Sandpiper
24 episodes
Eamon Farren
Eamon Farren
as Cahir
29 episodes
Mimî M. Khayisa
Mimî M. Khayisa
as Fringilla Vigo
28 episodes
Anna Shaffer
Anna Shaffer
as Triss Merigold
24 episodes
Show 67 more
Mahesh Jadu as Vilgefortz of Roggeveen 21 episodes Zhang Meng'er as Milva 10 episodes Danny Woodburn as Zoltan Chivay 8 episodes Cassie Clare as Philippa Eilhart 17 episodes Adam Levy as Mousesack 6 episodes MyAnna Buring as Tissaia De Vries 19 episodes Christelle Elwin as Mistle 10 episodes Ben Radcliffe as Giselher 9 episodes Fabian McCallum as Kayleigh 9 episodes Mecia Simson as Francesca Findabair 17 episodes Aggy K. Adams as Iskra 9 episodes Connor Crawford as Asse 9 episodes Juliette Alexandra as Reef 9 episodes Laurence Fishburne as Regis 8 episodes Tom Canton as Filavandrel 13 episodes Graham McTavish as Sigismund Dijkstra 13 episodes Hugh Skinner as Prince Radovid 11 episodes Kim Bodnia as Vesemir 8 episodes Bart Edwards as Emhyr 17 episodes Wilson Mbomio as Dara 15 episodes Björn Hlynur Haraldsson as Eist 3 episodes Therica Wilson-Read as Sabrina 14 episodes Judit Fekete as Vanielle of Brugge 3 episodes Máté Haumann as Field Marshall 3 episodes Daniel Burke as Nilfgaardian Soldier 3 episodes Terence Maynard as Artorius 9 episodes Lars Mikkelsen as Stregobor 11 episodes Antony Byrne as General Hake 3 episodes Chris Fulton as Rience 4 episodes Aisha Fabienne Ross as Lydia Van Bredevoort 7 episodes Gaia Mondadori as Pavetta 4 episodes Jodhi May as Queen Calanthe 6 episodes Ania Marson as Voleth Meir 5 episodes Kaine Zajaz as Gage 6 episodes Paul Bullion as Lambert 8 episodes Yasen Atour as Coen 8 episodes Jota Castellano as Gwain 5 episodes Chuey Okoye as Merek 5 episodes Nathanial Jacobs as Everard 6 episodes Ed Birch as King Vizimir of Redania / King Vizimir 8 episodes Jeremy Crawford as Yarpen Zigrin 7 episodes Robbie Amell as Gallatin 3 episodes Sam Woolf as Rience 4 episodes Safiyya Ingar as Keira Metz 5 episodes Cal Watson as Eva 7 episodes Rochelle Rose as Margarita 5 episodes Shaun Dooley as King Foltest of Temeria 5 episodes Rochelle Rose as Margarita 4 episodes Philip Philmar as Gerhart 3 episodes Royce Pierreson as Istredd 15 episodes Rebecca Hanssen as Queen Meve 4 episodes Frances Pooley as Teryn 7 episodes Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea as Valdo Marx 3 episodes Poppy Almond as Bianca 3 episodes Bernhard Fuchs as Fercart of Cidaris 3 episodes Harvey Quinn as Radcliffe 3 episodes James Purefoy as Skellen 5 episodes Linden Porco as Percival Shuttenbach 6 episodes Audrey Kattan as Beata 3 episodes Simon Paisley Day as Xarthisius 5 episodes Edmund Kingsley as Jocephus of Muroc 4 episodes Ricky Champ as Toothless 3 episodes Miles Jovian as Cloggy 3 episodes Sharlto Copley as Leo Bonhart 4 episodes Luisa Guerreiro as Ximer 3 episodes Su Douglas as Assire Var Anahid 3 episodes Joelle Rae as Ida Emean Aep Sivney 3 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Standby Property Master
Aaron Contreras Zoltán Kohút
Standby Art Director
Cristiana Serra
Second Unit Director of Photography
Julian Morson
"A" Camera Operator
Matt Poynter Jonathan 'Chunky' Richmond
Assistant Art Director
Sándor Jani Paula Németh
Graphic Designer
Zita Nagy
"B" Camera Operator
James Frater
Art Direction
Justin Warburton-Brown Zoltán Sárdi
Draughtsman
Tamás Tárnoki Oliver Herrick Eszter Sebők
Camera Trainee
András Kásai
Second Assistant "A" Camera
Kristóf Párdányi George Anthony Fox
Property Master
Marton Szalay
First Assistant "B" Camera
Chris Summers Krisztián Galanics
Second Assistant "C" Camera
Balázs Várszegi
Creator
Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Art Department Coordinator
Hardy Ilona
Concept Artist
Daniel Veres
Production Design
Andrew Laws
Art Department Assistant
Péter Szilágyi Krisztina Lascsik
Still Photographer
Kata Vermes
Set Decoration
Naomi Moore
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Witcher overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

based on novel or book monster mutant magic mutation fantasy world dark fantasy
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
December 20, 2019
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
6,831